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(No ModeLy H. L; JOHNSTONE.

I OAR COUPLING No. 296,577.

Patented Apr. 8, 1884.

away to form a notch, a, that has its front side,

HEXRY L. J OHNSTON E, ()F PALMETTO, GEORGIA.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,577, dated April 8, 1884.

Application filed November 10, 1883. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1, HENRY L. Jonnsronn, of Palmetto, in the county of Campbell, and in the State of Georgia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in CanCouplings; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description there of, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 is a plan view of two of my improved draw-heads coupled together, and Fig. 2 is a perspective view of one of the same.

Letters of like name and kind refer to like parts in each of the figures. v

My invention belongs to a class known as twin-bar couplings, in which the outer portions of the draw-bars have hooked engaging ends; and it consists, principally, in a carcoupling composed of hooked-end draw-bars which are connected with a draw-head and adapted to engage with each other by lateral horizontal movements, and are held in such engagement by means of a lock or looks that is or are adapted to engage with contiguous portions of the other draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose hereinafter specified.

It consists, further, in the coupling, constructed and adapted to operate in the manner and for the purpose substantially as hereinafter set forth.

In the annexed drawings, Arepresents the outer portion of my draw-head, which has in plan view an elliptical form, with one side out a, at substantiallya right angle to the line of draft, and its remaining side formed upon a rearward and outward curving line. At the rear end of said notch the head is extended laterally outward, so as to form a shoulder, a), that has substantially a right angle to the line of draft. The said front side, a, of said'notch a is slightly convex horizontally, for reasons hereinafter described.

From the head, constructed as shown, to its rear end the draw-bar A has straight parallel sides, and is provided with an axial opening, which receives a bar, B, and permits the same to move longitudinally within certain limits. Said bar 13 has its rear end pivoted upon the frame of the car, and furnishes a pivotal hearoperates to cushion the latter against outward pressure. The head of the draw-bar A is held with a yielding pressure at a point somewhat beyond the center draft-line of the car by means of a spiral spring, D, which is placed between the side of the said draw-bar, opposite to the notch a, and a fixed bearing, preferably one of the frame-bars of the platform.

As arranged,the coupling is used as follows, viz: Upon movingtoget-her two cars provided with said couplings the rounded or sloping faces of their ends will come into contact and will operate to press the drawheads outward until the engaging faces a of the notches a have passed each other, when the springs D will operate to press said draw-heads inward into engagement, as shown in Fig. 1, and, if possessing suffi cient strength,will hold the latter in such engagement under ordinary circumstances. In order, however, that no liability may exist to the accidental disengagement of the draw-heads,l provide at some suitable point upon each of the same a lock or latch, E, preferably operated by gravity, which, upon the coming together of two draw-heads, will drop into position and engage with the contiguous portion of the opposite draw-head and hold said parts in'relative lateral position.

- The draw-heads are so constructed as to bring the horizontal center of each engaging face at exactly upon the axial line of its drawbar, in consequence of which arrangement the draft is in a straight line, and no tendency exists upon partof either draw-bar tochangc position laterally when under strain.

In order that allowance may be made for changes of relative position when passing around a curve, the engaging faces aare made curved, as before described, and by such construction roll upon each other and always have a firm hearing. I

The draw-heads are liberated from engagement, when desired, by means of alever pivoted'upon the frame of the car and connected with its draw-head byarod inthewell-known manner. The front end of each draw bar comes into contact with the shoulder a of the 5 engaging draw-bar and receives the thrust,

thus enabling said draw-bars to act as buffers as Well as couplings.

Having thus fully set forth the nature and merits of my invention, What I claim as new 10 1s 1. A car-coupling composed of hooked-end draw-bars which are adapted to engage with each other by lateral horizontal movements, and are held in such engagement by means of a lock or locks that is or are connected with one draw-head and adapted to engage with contiguous portions of the other draw-head, substantially as and for the purpose specified.

2. The hereinbefore-described draw-bar A, provided with the rounded front end,the notch 01, having the curved engaging face a and the shoulder a, the spring-bar B. the springs O and D, and the latch or lock E, all combined to operate substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 15th day of October, 1883.

' H. L. JOHNSTONE.

Vitn esses:

Gno. S. PRINDLE, PHILIP G. RUssELL. 

